Beecher Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Beecher Hall, Illinois College
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Beecher Hall from the northeast
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | Illinois College campus, Jacksonville, Illinois |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1829 |
| Architect | Kerr, James |
| Architectural style | Early Republic, Late Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000769 |
| Added to NRHP | April 8, 1974 |
Beecher Hall is a really old and important building. You can find it on the campus of Illinois College in Jacksonville, Illinois. It was built way back in 1829-1830. This makes it the very first college building ever built in the state of Illinois!
Over the years, Beecher Hall has been used for many different things. It even housed the first medical school in Illinois for a few years. The building is named after Edward Beecher, who was the first president of Illinois College. Beecher Hall is also famous because it was a secret stop on the Underground Railroad. This was a network that helped people escape slavery. Today, it's recognized as a historic place by the National Park Service.
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History of Beecher Hall
Illinois College was one of the first three colleges to be officially started in Illinois. This happened in 1829. Right away, they started building Beecher Hall. The first classes at the college actually began there on January 4, 1830. This was even before the building was completely finished!
Who Was Edward Beecher?
The college named its first building after its first president, Dr. Edward Beecher. He came from a very famous family. His brother was Henry Ward Beecher, who spoke out against slavery. His sister was Harriet Beecher Stowe, who wrote the famous book Uncle Tom's Cabin.
Just like his siblings, Edward Beecher was a strong supporter of ending slavery. Illinois College became a very important place for the movement against slavery in Illinois.
A Secret Stop on the Underground Railroad
Because of Edward Beecher's beliefs, Beecher Hall became a secret stop on the Underground Railroad. This was a hidden network of safe houses and routes. It helped people who were escaping slavery travel to freedom in the North.
At that time, many people in Central Illinois supported slavery. So, the college and its students faced challenges and even threats. This was because they were helping people escape. For example, one student named Samuel Willard had to pay a fine. This was because he helped someone who had escaped slavery.
Today, Beecher Hall is part of the National Park Service's Network to Freedom. This group connects historic places that were part of the Underground Railroad. It helps us remember this important part of history.
Recognized as a Historic Place
Beecher Hall was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 8, 1974. This means it's a special building that is important to the history of the United States. In 1993, the U.S. Postal Service even released a special 19-cent postal card that showed Beecher Hall.
